Typewriter desk



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. H.v PAGE IYPEWRITER DESK med Appli; 4, 1941 Feb, `23, 1943.

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Feb. 23, 1943. J, H, PAGE 2,311,861 TYPEWRITER DESK Filed April 4, 1941 4 Sheets-sheet 2 Feb.23,1943. J. H. PAGE TYPEWRITER DESK Filed April 4, A1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. @ef ,darv

Feb- 23, 1943- J. H. PAGE 2,311,861

TYPEWRITER DESK l Filed April 4, 1941 4 sheets-sheet 4 A .A u

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Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UN iTED STAT {fi} z ,slrti TENT OFFICE TYIEWRITER DESK .lohn H. Page, Muskegon, Mich., assignor to The Shaw-Walker Company, Muskegon, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan 25 Claims.

This invention relates rto a novel and improved typewriter desk and consists of the matters herein'after described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The improvement is applied to the class of typewriter desk in which the typewriter is housed, when not in use, in a hollow pedestal of the desk, and is mounted upon a platform hinged at one lateral edge to a carriage mounted within the pedestal upon one side wall thereof for longitudinal movement When the hinged platform is housed within the pedestal, it occupies a depending vertical position; .but when it is withdrawn from the pedestal -to bring the typewriter forwardly beyond the pedestal, said platform may be swung to a horizontal plane with its free lateral margin engaged below a stop or abutment upon the opposite side wall of the pedestal to which it may be latched to hold it in said position.

The object of the invention is to provide a typewriter desk of the kind with a hinged platform which includes parts to present a maximum of rigidity against vibration of the platform when it is locked in horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatically actuated stop to prevent the movement of the platform into the pedestal after it reaches the point where it may be swung upwardly to clear the typewriter of the ypedestal and to bring it to working position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial top plan view of the novel typewriter desk with the typewriter platform in extended relation as when withdrawn from the compartment in the pedestal, with the top of the desk removed to show the Iparts below, and with the typewriter platform locked in horizontal position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the desk pedestal in a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 tion in a plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2 through the hollow pedestal in which the typewriter platform is housed, with the platform in horizontal working position.

Figures 4 is a section like unto that of Figure 3, but with the platform 'folded down within the compartment and held in vertical inoperative position against the carriage to which it is Y hinged.

is a partial vertical transverse sec- Figure 5 is a partial horizontal section in a plane indicated by the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale in a plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 2 and of Figure 7.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a partial section on an enlarged scale in a plane indicated by the line 8--8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale in a vertical plane indicated by the line 9 9 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail perspective View on an enlarged scale of parts which will be referred to more particularly in the specification.

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of a locking and wedging mechanism used in the construction.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional View, the plane of the section being indicated by the line I2-l 2 of Figure 2.

Figure 13 is a View representing a vertical section through Figure 12 in a plane indicated by the line |3-l3 thereof.

Figure 14 is a sectional view similar to that shownin Figure 12, but with the carriage somewhat back of and towards the rear of the compartment as compared to its position as illustrated in Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a vertical section through Figure.

14 in a plane indicated by the line |5-l5 of Figure 14.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings: The invention may be applied to a typewriterA desk of any well known construction including a hollow pedestal open in front and preferably provided with a hinged door to close said front when the typewriter platform is housed within the pedestal. As illustrated herein, the invention is applied to a typewriter desk made of sheet and bar metal fabricated in a familiar manner.

20 indicates the desk body; 2l, the desk top which may be of wood or fibre as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, or of other material, as metal. 22 indicates a hollow pedestal preferably at the left side of the desk in which is housed the typewriter platform. When the typewriter is housed within the pedestal, a door 23 (see Figure 5) hinged on a vertical axis to the desk body at one side of the pedestal, closes the open front of the pedestal. Its opening is limited in its outward swinging movement by a stop plate 24 having a lip 25 engageable with a bar 26 of the desk frame.

The pedestal 22, as shown, consists of upright side walls 21 and 21a, a back Wall 23 and a bottom or iioor 29. 30 indicates a vertically disposed carriage (see Figures 2, 3 and 4) mounted on the outer side wall 21 of the pedestal for longitudinal movement thereon from a position at the rear end of the compartment in the hollow pedestal (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2) to a forward position in the compartment as shown in full lines in said figure.

The carriage 30 consists of a comparatively narrow vertical plate having strengthening flanges 3l, 3l at its lateral edges. It carries at its upper margin on horizontal axes and rotatively mounted on its side next the inner side.

of the pedestal Wall 21, a pair of rollers 32, 32. Said rollers are spaced horizontally and lengthwise of the pedestal. A second pair of similarly spaced rollers 33, 33 (as illustrated) are disposed in the vertical plane of, but below the first pair of rollers, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The front roller 33V may be omitted if desired; but it may supplement the resistance of the associated upper front roller 32 when subjected to strain as hereinafter described. Said rollers are mounted on studs 32a, 323L andV 33a, 33a, respectively, secured to said carriage in any suitable manner.

34 indicates a. horizontal fixed rail extending approximately the full length of the pedestal compartment 22 (see Figures 2, 3 and 6). It has a horizontal flange 34.a at the top and a transversely rounded flange 34b at the bottom. Each of the pair of rollers 32, 32 has transversely roundedperipheries which engage respectively the top and bottom anges 34a, 34b of said rail. The pair of rollers 33 each engage the bottom flange 34h from below.

35 indicates the platform for supporting the typewriter. This platform is of approximately the same length as that of the compartment. It is connected at one lateral margin by hinges 3B towards its rear end (see Figures 2, 4 and 6) to the upper margin of the carriage 30. 31 indicates a reinforcing depending channel bar extending the length of the platform 35; and the hinges by which it is connected to the carriage are secured to the bottom flange of said channel bar.

The platform 35 is thus obviously mounted upon the narrow carriage 30, as a cantilever in a familiar manner, to support its own weight beyond the carriage and the typewriter (not shown) to be mounted at its outer end.

38, 38 indicate vertically adjustable, horizonf tally spaced angle plates secured to the vertical web of the channel bar 31 next to the side wall 21 of the pedestal (see Figure 1) and at the ends of the carriage 39. As illustrated, the vertical legs of the angle plates 38 are provided with downwardly inclined slots 39 as best shown in Figures 7 and 10, in which engage the Shanks of cap screws 40 (see Figure 6) which are tapped into the vertical web of the channel bar 31. The horizontal flange 38a of each angle plate 38 engages the top of the horizontal flange 34a of the rail 34 when the platform 35 is in horizontal position, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. The rotative axes of the hinges 35 are located below the horizontal flange 34a in such manner that when the platform is swung from the vertical position, as shown in Figure 4, to the horizontal position, as shown in Figure 3, the anges 33a of the angle plates 38 will cramp down against the flange 34a of the rail 34 and hold the platform at the adjacent margin thereof rigidly against vibration.

The carriage 39 is provided at its bottom edge with longitudinally spaced rollers 4| which are rotatively mounted on vertical studs 4I extending parallel to and fixed to the back face of the carriage 30 as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 8. The rollers 4l travel against the upright leg 42a of an L-shaped horizontal bar 42 fixed to the near side wall 21 of the pedestal and extending approximately the length of the compartment therein. Said bar 42 also has a longitudinally extending vertical front flange 42b spaced laterally from its upright leg 42a to leave a clearance space 42c for the rollers 4I. It terminates in a front end 42d.

At the free lateral edge of the platform 35 and projecting in a plane parallel thereto beyond the same, is a narrow retaining bar 4 IX (see Figures 8, 9, 13 and l5). Said bar clears the inner face of the ange 42b of the L-bar 42 fixed' to the pedestal along the bottom of the carriage 30, when said platform is in vertical hanging relation, but prevents it from swinging to the horizontal until the carriage is at its forward position as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

4|Y indicates a spring-controlled trigger (see Figures 14 and 15) pivoted on a vertical axis to a bottom flange of the carriage 30. It is normally maintained in a position inclined rearwardly towards the inner face of the pedestal 22 with its following, rear end clearing the upright leg 42a of the bar 42 (by means presently to be described) when the platform is in vertical hanging relation to the carriage as the carriage is moved forwardly and rearwardly in said pedestal. At a point adjacent to, but back of the front end 42d of the flange 42b and in the plane of said trigger bar 4IY is provided a slot or recess 21x in the upright leg 42L of the bar 42 on the inner face of the pedestal. Said slot or recess presents an abutment 21y facing toward the front of the pedestal.

Said platform is designed to come to rest in a Vertical plane, when a typewriter is carried thereby, with the retaining bar 41X bearing lightly against a bumper 4lz and holding the trigger bar 4|y away from the upright leg 42a of said L-bar. The forward end 42d of the flange 42b near the front of the pedestal is positioned to release the retaining bar 4l", when the platform 35 is Withdrawn to a point where the typewriter carried at its outer end has cleared the open front end of the pedestal, to be swung to operative position. A suitable stop limits such withdrawal of the carriage and platform.

On the inner side of the wall 21a of the pedestal opposite to the wall 21 is xed a horizontal rail or stop bar 44 somewhat above the level of the rail 34 on the wall 21. Upon the margin of the platform 35 adjacent to its free edge is mounted to slide laterally a duplex wedge member 45 (see Figures 8 and 9). Said wedge member as shown comprises a bar 45a extending lengthwise of said platform, and laterally extending wedge arms 45b xed at the ends of said bar. Said wedge arms are preferably disposed in transversely aligned and opposed relation to the angle plates 38 fixed to the hinged edge of the platform. They take through associated slots 49a, 49b limiting their movement from the platform 35 formed in a flanged channel bar 49 fixed to the margin of the platform 35 and extending parallel to the edge thereof. The bottom ends of said wedge arms 45b are inclined upwardly, as clearly shown in Figure 9, and are adapted for clamping engagement against the top of the horizontal rail or stop bar 44 when the platform is swung to horizontal position.

46 indicates a pin extending at right angles to the platform 35 through a laterally extending slot 41 therein (see Figures 8 and 9). Said pin is connected at its end above the platform to the wedge member bar 45a at a point midway of the ends of said bar. A spacing washer 48 is interposed between said bar and said platform. 50 indicates an operating, spring-controlled lever fulcrumed on a ybolt 50X (see Figure 1') depending below the platform 35 to swing in a plane parallel thereto. The long arm 58h of the lever 50 extends to a point near the forward end of said platform. Its short arm 50 is connected to the pin 46. A coiled spring |)a connecting the long arm of the lever to the channel bar 31 at the hinged side of the platform normally tends to move the pin 46 towards the free edge of the platform and the wedge member 45 with it (see Figures 1 and 9). Such movement is blocked, however, when the platform is in vertical, hanging position, with the pin 46 at the remote end of the slot 41, as shown in Figure 8, by a restraining bar 5| slidable transversely on the bottom face of the platform.

The restraining bar 5| is pivotally connected to a washer 5| a mounted on the pin 46 and interposed between the short arm 50C of the lever 50 and the bottom of the platform. The several parts through which the pin 46 takes, with the platform 35 between, are held together for slidable movement as a unit on said platform by a head 46a at one end of said pin 46 and a cotter pin 46b at its other end.

The platform 35 is preferably provided at its free edge (as at its hinged edge) with a reinforcing channel -bar construction 52. This includes a depending web 52a, a flange 52b parallel to said platform, and a flange 52c spaced from and extending parallel to said web. 53 indicates a spring-controlled plunger disposed at right angles to and below the platform 35 near its free edge and movable through a suitable opening therein. Said plunger also extends through a notch 49X of the flange of the channel bar 49 next to the edge of the platform (see Figures 8 and 9). Said plunger has a stem 53a of reduced diameter. This I extends through an opening in the ange 52b of the channel 52 beyond which it is provided with a cotter pin 53x to limit its movement towards the platform 35. Said plunger 53 is preferably located midway between the wedge bars 45h.

The restraining bar 5| extends to the free edge of the platform 35 where it engages a slot in the web of the channel 52 adapted to hold it in close sliding contact with the bottom face of said platform.- Said bar is bifurcated at itsV end to provide laterally spaced arms 5|a, 5|a (see Figures 1, 8, 9 and 11) which embrace the plunger 53 above its stem 53a.

54 indicates a rectangular flat bolt slidable on the plunger stem 53a and yieldingly held by a coiled spring 53b against a shoulder 54y on the plunger near the restraining bar 5|. Said bolt is elongated transversely of the release bar 5| to bridge the space between its end arms 5|a (see Figure 1l) and one lateral edge has guiding engagement with the web 52a of the channel 52. The spaced arms 5|, 5|a are less in thickness in the neighborhood of the bolt 54 to provide transverse aligned bottom shoulders 54x spaced inwardly from their ends and adapted for engagement with a lateral edge 54y of the bolt 54,'as shown in Figure 8, when the platform is in hanging vertical position.

The upper end of the spring-controlled plunger 53 is normally in the plane of the bottom plane of the wedge member 45. It is disposed with reference to the ends of the wedge -bars 45b so that when the platform 35 is swung to horizontal position, .the rail or stop bar 44 will be cleared by said wedge bars, but will be engaged from below by said plunger. When thus engaged, the springcontrolled plunger is depressed to release the bolt 54 from its engagement with the shoulders 54X of the restraining bar 5|. Instantly the bar 5| is released, its ends pass beyond the web 52a of the channel 52; the spring-controlled lever 50 moves the pin 45 laterally towards the free edge of the platform; the wedge arms 45b are thus forcibly engaged above the rail or stop bar 44; and said b-ar is engaged below by the iiange of channel bar 49 (see Figure 9).

The platform is thus rigidly and securely held at its free edge to the wall 21a of the pedestal against vibration. At the same time the flanges 38a of the angle plates 38 cramp down against the fixed rail 34 on the wall 21 of the pedestal (see Figure 6) at the hinged edge of the platform at longitudinally spaced points in transverse alignment with the wedge bars 45h. 'I'he platform is thus rigidly and securely held at its opposite lateral margins to the Walls 21 and 21a, respectively, against vibration.

When the platform is withdrawn from the pedestal to the full limit of movement of the carriage 30, with the typewriter free of the pedestal, the bar 4| X on the platform clears the forward end 4?.d of the flange 42h, and the trailing end of the trigger is in position to snap into engagement with said abutment 21)'. The platform 35 is then free to be swung from its vertical hanging position as shown in Figure 4, to its horizontal working position as shown in Figure 3. And the engagement of the trigger 4|y with the abutment 21y blocks inward movement of the carriage 30 while the platform is in horizontal position.

- (see Figures 12 and 15) and releases it from the abutment 21Y, whereupon the platform 35 and the carriage may be pushed back into the pedestal to housing position, with the carriage at the rear end of the pedestal as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

To release the wedge bars 45b from the rail 44, when returning the platform to its housed position within the pedestal, the forward end of the spring-- controlled lever 50, conveniently located near the forward end of the platform 35, is shifted towards the pedestal wall 21a. This withdraws the wedge arm 45 and the release barv 5| from the position shown in Figure 9 to that shown in Figure 8, with the bolt 54 engaged against and retaining the release bar in said position. 'I'he platform 35 may fixed to its outer end, from the vertical position nect the end of the plate Si remote from the knee 43C 'to a part of 'the plate 43b extended beyond said knee, as shown in Figures l, 3 and 4. The bottom end of the plate t3b of said spring unit is engaged in a laterally elongated pocket 30x formed in the carriage 30 and centered by a lug Say, fixed in the bottom of said pocket and engaged in a notch or hole in the bottom margin of said plate as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. The plate 43a is pivotally connected at its free end to the platform 35 by .bolts 35X, 35X. .As shown, the plates 63a and 43h are reinforced at their edges by angular flanges 43X and 435', respectively. The platform y35 is provided with an opening 35a (see Figure l) to Vpermit the operation of the spring unit 43. Said opening is defined and the platform reinforced adjacent thereto by angle plates 55h, 351 extending transversely of and fixed to Ithe platform S5. The bolts 35X take through the reinforcing flanges 43X of the plate 43a and the respective proximate angle bars 35b of the platform. The plate 43a is provided with an upturned end ange 43e. Through this takes a threaded bolt 43h engaged in a slide 43g to which the ends of the spring assembly remote from the knee are connected. By this means the tension of the spring assembly may be adjusted.

The spring unit 43 materially aids the operator in swinging the yplatform with the weight of the typewriter from hanging position to operating position. As will be observed in Figure 4, the spring assembly is disposed in elongated tension relation when the Iplatform is in hanging `position upon the carriage, as when housed within the pedestal.

The spring unit always tends to swing the platform away from the carriage. When correctly adjusted for the weight of the typewriter, however, the spring tension will be slightly overbalanced by the weight of the typewriter when in a vertical swinging position. When the platform is started upward on its swinging movement, the toggle arrangement of the springs comes into action, providing an increasing force to balance the opposing force caused by the typewriter which also increases as the platform is brought from a vertical to a horizontal position.

The particular arrangement of springs and toggles is capable of adjustment to balance the average typewriter throughout the lower three# quarters of its arc. The rest of the Way, the force caused by the weight of the typewriter exceeds the force generated by the spring unit. The operator, therefore, supplements the force exerted by the spring unit not only to start the platform up but also to bring it to its final latched position. This prevents the platform from swinging up too violently against the rail 44.

An important feature of the typewriter desk of the application is the facility with which it may be packed for shipment. With the carriage in its forward position in the pedestal and the platform in hanging relation thereto, the spring-controlled trigger bar 4 ly may be manually disengaged from the abutment Z'y and the platform swung to a position at an angle of about Ll5 degrees to the carriage. In this position the platform and carriage maybe pushed to the rear of the pedestal where the platform is permitted to swing up and lock to the rail 44, which is extended to the rear of the pedestal for this purpose.

With the carriage and platform thus locked within the pedestal, the mechanism is secured against damage in shipment; and the'springs and other parts of the construction are relieved Gf the great; strain which would .be imposed upon them if the desk were shipped with the .platform in vertical hanging position and the springs under great tension.

While in describing the invention many details of construction and of disposition of parts have been described as relating to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I clai-m as my invention:

1. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a vertically disposed narrow carriage depending from and movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, and means projecting beyond the hinged margin of said platform adapted for cramping engagement against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position.

2. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage depending lfrom and movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for locking said platform to said stop bar, and means projecting beyond the hinged margin of said platform adapted for cramping engagement against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position.

3. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail xed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage depending from and movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestaI hinged at one lateral Inargin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, and adjustable means projecting beyond the hinged margin of said platform adapted for cramping engagement against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position.

4. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail xed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a vertically disposed narrow carriage depending from and movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for locking said platform to said stop bar, and adjustable means projecting beyond the hinged margin of said platform adapted for cramping engagement against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position.

5. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a vertically disposed narrow carriage depending from and movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged atv one lateral margin at its rear end. to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, and angle plates fixed to the hinged margin of said platform having :flanges projecting beyond said margin adapted for cramping engagement against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position, said angle plates being disposed near the lateral margins of said carriage.

6. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a horizontal rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a vertically disposed narrow carriage depending from and movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for locking said platform to said stop bar, angle plates fixed to the hinged margin of saidv platform, said angle plates being vertically adjustable upon said platform and having flanges extending beyond said margin and engageable against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position, said angle plates being longitudinally spaced upon said platform.

7. In a, cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for locking said platform at its free lateral margin to said stop bar, means projecting beyond the hinged margin of said platform adapted for cramping engagement against said rail when said platform is brought to horizontal position, said locking means and said cramping means being constructed to rigidly clamp the platform atitshinged margin to the rail and at its free marginv to the stop bar, respectively, at transversely disposed and longitudinally spaced points.

8. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a, platform hinged at one lateral margin to said carriage, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for locking said platform at its free lateral margin to said stop bar comprising a wedge member laterally movable upon said platform, a restraining bar below said platform movable with said wedge member, said restraining bar being provided with a shoulder near its outer end, a spring-actuated bolt normally engaged with said shoulder to hold said restraining bar against lateral movement, said bolt being mounted on a plunger adapted to depress said bolt from said shoulder when said plunger engages the bottom of said stop bar as the platform is swung to horizontal position, and a spring-controlled lever pivotally mounted on said platform and connected to said wedge member for withdrawing said wedge member from said stop bar.

9. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform hinged at one lateral margin to said carriage, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for locking said platform at its free lateral margin to said stop bar comprising a wedge member having longitudinally spaced arms laterally movable upon said platform, a restraining bar below said platform movable with said wedge member, said restraining bar being provided with a shoulder near its outer end, a spring-actuated bolt nor-A mally engaged with said shoulder to hold said restraining bar against lateral movement, said bolt being mounted on a plunger adaptedV to depress said bolt from said shoulder when said plunger engages the bottom of said stop bar as the platform is swung to horizontal position, and a spring-controlled hand. lever pivotally mounted on said platform and connected to said. wedge member for withdrawing said wedge member from said stop bar.

10. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage depending from and movable upon said rail between the front and rear ends of said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for preventing said platform from being swung to horizontal position until the carriage has been withdrawn to a predetermined forward limit of movement, a for-V wardly facing stop fixed to said pedestal near its front end, a spring-controlled trigger on said carriage adapted to engage said stop, and means carried by said platform adapted to release said trigger from engagement with said stop when said platform has been returned to hanging position.

1l. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage depending from and movable upon said rail between the front and rear ends of said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, means for preventing said platform from being swung to horizontal position until the carriage has been withdrawn to a predetermined forward limit of movement, a forwardly facing stop fixed to said pedestal and associated lwith said forward position of said carriage, a spring-controlled trigger on said carriage adapted to engage said stop, means carried by said platform adapted to release said trigger from engagement with said stop when said platform has been returned to hanging position, and means fixed to said pedestal to prevent swinging movement of said platform towards a horizontal position at any point except where said trigger is engageable with said stop.

12. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage depending from and movable upon said rail between the front and rear ends of said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when swung to horizontal position, longitudinally spaced rollers mounted on vertical axes at the bottom of said carriage adapted to ride against the proximate wall of said pedestal, a longitudinal, horizontal upright iiange xed to said pedestal in spaced relation to said rollers, said flange terminating at a point associated with the forward limit of movement of said carriage, means providing a forwardly facing stop fixed to said pedestal and associated with the forward position of said carriage, a springcontrolled trigger carried at the bottom of said carriage adapted to engage said stop, and a retaining bar projecting from the free margin of said platform adapted to release said trigger from engagement with said stop when said platform has been returned to hanging position and coacting with said flange to retain said platform in hanging position after it has been pushed back of the front end of said flange.

, 13. In a desk having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail xed to one inner side wall and extending the length of said pedestal, said rail having top and bottom horizontal flanges, a carriage depending from said rail and movable thereon by means of longitudinally spaced rollers mounted on horizontal axes at the top margin of said carriage engaging between said rail flanges, a roller mounted on said carriage below and engaged with the bottom flange of said rail below the rear one of the rst named rollers, longitudinally spaced rollers mounted at the bottom of said carriage on vertical axes and engaged with said pedestal, and a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to the top of said carriage, said platform being movable from a vertical position depending from said carriage to a horizontal position near the top of said pedestal when said carriage is withdrawn to the forward limit of its movement on said rail.

14. In a desk having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall and extending the length of said pedestal, said rail having top and bottom horizontal flanges, a carriage depending from said rail and movable thereon by means of longitudinally spaced rollers mounted on horizontal axes at the top margin of said carriage engaging between said rail flanges, a roller mounted on said carriage below and engaged with the bottom flange of said rail below the rear one of the rst named rollers, longitudinally spaced rollers mounted at the bottom of said carriage on vertical axes and engaged with said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to the top of said carriage, said platform being movable from a Yvertical position depending from 'said carriage to a horizontal position near the top of said pedestal when said carriage is withdrawn to the forward limit of its movement on said rail, and means for retaining said platform in its depending vertical position until said carriage has reached said forward limit.

15. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wail and extending the length of said pedestal, said rail having a top horizontal flange and a bottom transversely rounded flange, a vertically disposed carriage depending from said rail and movable thereon from the rear to the front end of said pedestal by means of longitudinally spaced rollers mounted in vertically spaced pairs at the top margin of said carriage, the upper pair engaging the top and bottom flanges of said rail and the bottom pair engaging below the bottom flange of said rail, longitudinally spaced rollers mounted at the bottom of said carriage on vertical axes and engaged with said pedestal, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to the top of said carriage, said platform being movable from a vertical position depending from said carriage to a horizontal position near the top of the pedestal when said carriage is withdrawn to the forward limit of its movement on said rail.

16. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail xed to one inner side wall of said pedestal, a vertically disposed carriage movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and designed for the support of a typewriter at its forward end, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal, and a spring unit for reducing the effort of swinging said platform, when bearing a typewriter, to horizontal position, comprising a member having a bottom end disposed in abutting relation to said carriage and inclined upwardly and away therefrom, a second member hinged at one end to a knee spaced back from the upper end of said first named member, said second named member being pivotally connected at its outer end to said platform near the free margin thereof on an axis spaced from said platform, and a spring member connecting the end of said second member remote from said knee to the upper end of said firstnamecl member, said platform being provided with an opening to permit the operation of said spring unit.

17. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of said pedestal, a vertically disposed carriage movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and designed for` the support of a type- Writer at its forward end, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal, and a spring unit for reducing the effort of swinging said platform, when bearing a typewriter, to horizontal position, comprising a member having a bottom end disposed in abutting relation to said carriage and inclined upwardly and away therefrom, a second member hinged at one end to a knee spaced back from the upper end of said first named member, said second named member being pivotally connected at its outer end to said platform near the free margin thereof on an axis spaced from said platform, a spring member connecting the end of said second member remote from said knee to the upper end of said first named member, said platform being provided with an opening to permit the operation of said spring unit, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring member.

18. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of said pedestal, a vertically disposed carriage movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and designed for the support of a typewriter at its forward end, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal, and a spring unit for reducing the effort of swinging said platform, when bearing a typewriter, to horizontal position, comprising a plate approximating the width of said carriage having a bottom end disposed in abutting relation to said carriage intermediate the top and bottom thereof, a second plate of like width hinged at one end to a knee spaced back from the upper end of said rst named plate, said second named plate being pivotally connected at its other end to said platform near the free margin thereof on an axis spaced from said platform, and a plurality of springs connecting the end of said second named plate remote from said knee to the upper end of said rst named plate, said platform being provided with an opening to permit the operation of said spring unit.

19. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of said pedestal, a vertically disposed carriage movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and designed for the support of a typewriter at its forward end, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal, and a spring unit for reducing the eifort of swinging said platform, when bearing a typewriter, to horizontal position, comprising a plate having flanges at its lateral edges, said plate being disposed in abutting relation to said carriage and inclined upwardly and away therefrom, said carriage being provided intermediate its top and bottom with means for engagement by the bottom end of said plate, a second, similar, flanged plate hinged at one end to a knee spaced back from the upper end of said first named plate, said second named plate being pivotally connected at its outer end to said platform near the free margin thereof on an axis spaced from said platform, and a plurality of springs connecting the end of said second plate remote from said knee to the upper end of said rst named plate, said platform being provided With an opening to permit the operation of said unit.

20. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of said' pedestal, a vertically disposed carriage movable upon said rail between the front and rear end of said pedestal, a platform hinged at one lateral margin at its rear end to said carriage and designed for the support of a typewriterat its forward end, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal, and a spring unit for reducing the effort of swinging said platform, when bearing a typewriter, to horizontal position, comprising a plate having flanges at its lateral edges, said plate being disposed in abutting relation to said carriage and inclined upwardly and away therefrom, said carriage being provided intermediate its top and bottom with means for engagement by the bottom end of said plate, a second, similar, flanged plate hinged at one end to a knee spaced back from the upper end 0f said first named plate, said second named plate being pivotally connected at its outer end to said platform near the free margin thereof on an axis spaced from said platform, a plurality of springs connecting the end of said second plate remote from said knee to the upper end of said rst named plate, said platform being provided with an opening to permit the operation of said unit, reinforcing flanges disposed about said opening, and pivotal devices connecting the proximate flanges of said platform and of said second named plate to provide the aforesaid axis.

21. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin to Said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when said platform is swung to horizontal position, a wedge member having longitudinally spaced arms laterally movable upon said platform, means normally urging said wedge member to position for engagement with said stop bar, and restraining means for preventing such movement of said wedge member adapted to engage said stop bar and release said wedge member, whereby said stop bar is wedged between the arms of said wedge member and the free margin of said platform.

22. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when said platform is swung to horizontal position, a wedge member having longitudinally spaced arms laterally movable upon said platform, means normally urging said wedge member to position for engagem-ent with said stop bar, a fixed part on the free marginal edge of said platform adapted to engage said stop bar from below, and restraining means for preventing said lateral movement of said wedge member adapted to engage said stop bar and release said wedge member whereby said stop bar isv wedged between said fixed part on said platform and said wedge arms.

23. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail fixed` to one inner side wall of and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of Said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond said pedestal; a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when said platform is swung to horizontal position, a wedge member having longitudinally spaced arms laterally movable upon said platform, a spring-controlled lever mounted on said platform and connected to said wedge member normally urging it to position for engagement with said stop bar, a channel bar spaced from the free margin of said platform provided with slots engaged by said arms and held thereby in parallel relation to said platform, fixed means on said channel bar intermediate said arms adapted to engage said s-top bar from below when said platform is swung to horizontal position, and restraining means for preventing suchmovement of said wedge; member adapted to engage-said stop bar and release said wedge member whereby said stop bar is clamped between said arms and said xed means on said channel bar to hold said platform rigidly against vibration.

24. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestalopen in front, a rail xed to one inner side wall ofv and extending the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform of substantially the length and width of said pedestal hinged at one lateral margin to said carriage and adapted to be withdrawn beyond Said pedestal, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall ofsaid pedestal for arresting said platform when said platform is swung to horizontal position, a Wedge member having longitudinally spaced arms laterally movable upon said platform, a spring-controlled-lever mounted on said platform and connected to said wedge member normally urging it toposition for wedge member including aspring-controlled plunger and a bolt movable thereon adapted to engage said stop b ar and release said' wedge member whereby said wedge arms clamp said stop bar againstv said part of said channel bar to hold said platform rigidly against vibration.

25. In a cabinet having a hollow pedestal open in front, a rail xed to one inner side wall of and extendingV the length of said pedestal, a carriage movable upon said rail, a platform hinged at one lateral margin to sai-d carriage, a stop bar on the opposite inner side wall of said pedestal for arresting said platform when it is swung to horizontal position, av wedge member having longitudinally spaced arms laterally movable upon said platform, means providing Xed paths for the lateral movement of Said arms, a spring-controlled lever mounted on said platform and connected to saidl wedge member normally urging said wedge member to position for engagement with said stop bar, and restraining means for preventing such movement of said Wedge member adapted to engage said stop bar and release said wedge member, whereby the said wedge arms clamp said stop bar against said platform.

JOHN H. PAGE. 

